Stellantis bets US$70 billion on new model blitz, tie-ups to revive growth

Stellantis on Thursday outlined a 60 billion euro (US$70 billion) turnaround plan built on 60 new models, deeper partnerships and a rethink of its wide brand empire, as it seeks to boost growth and tackle excess capacity.

The Franco-Italian carmaker said it would also refocus its approach to its 14-brand portfolio, the industry’s largest one, with 70 per cent of brand and product investments going to Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat, as well as commercial vehicle unit Pro One due.

The world’s No. 4 automaker seeks to turn its structural disadvantage of having far too much unused factory capacity into a revenue-generating contract manufacturing business for Chinese automakers in Europe and other carmakers like Tata Motors’ unit JLR in the United States.

Unlike his predecessor Carlos Tavares who left the automaker’s portfolio of 14 brands largely untouched and spent heavily to develop new tech, Filosa has shown a willingness to focus on the company’s money-making brands and outsource expensive technology development to firms like self-driving startup Wayve.

“The plan is grounded in reality. It is the result of months of disciplined work across the company. And it is designed to create a condition for profitable and sustainable growth,” CEO Antonio Filosa told investors at the group’s capital markets day in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The strategy - alongside a flurry of partnership announcements in recent weeks - signals a marked shift in Stellantis’ approach.

Shares down

Milan-listed shares in the company continued to fall after details of the business plan were released and by 1245 GMT they were down five per cent.

Fabio Caldato, a fund manager at Stellantis investor AcomeA said financial targets were ambitious but markets were focused on limited detail around how cost cuts would be achieved.

“Expectations were high, and the initial reaction primarily reflects execution risk and limited visibility regarding the implementation of the plan,” he said.

“No significant indication has emerged regarding the possible phasing out of less strategic brands,” he added.

As part of its new plan, Stellantis has earmarked 24 billion euros for investments in global platforms, powertrains and new technologies, while targeting six billion euros in annual cost cuts by 2028 versus its outlays in 2025.

The company also said it is targeting 25 per cent revenue growth by 2030 in its key North American market, with a margin on its adjusted operating income (AOI) seen between eight to 10 per cent.

For Europe, its other key market, revenue is expected to grow 15 per cent over the plan period, with an AOI margin seen between three to five per cent.

(Reporting by Nora Eckert in Auburn Hills, Giulio Piovaccari in Milan and Gilles Guillaume in Paris; writing by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Susan Fenton and Louise Heavens)